• Macromolecular Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.104-109
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• 2009

Solid-state facilitated, olefin transport membranes were prepared by complexation of poly(styrene-b-iso-prene-b-styrene) (SIS) block copolymer and silver salt. Facilitated olefin transport was not observed up to a silver mole fraction of 0.14, representing a threshold concentration, above which transport increased almost linearly with increasing silver salt concentration. This was because firstly the silver ions were selectively coordinated with the C=C bonds of PI blocks up to a silver mole fraction of 0.20, and secondly the coordinative interaction of the silver ions with the aliphatic C=C bond was stronger than that with the aromatic C=C bond, as confirmed by FT-Raman spectroscopy. Small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) analysis showed that the cylindrical morphology of the neat SIS block copolymer was changed to a disordered structure at low silver concentrations ($0.01{\sim}0.02$). However, at intermediate silver concentrations ($0.15{\sim}0.20$), disordered-ordered structural changes occurred and finally returned to a disordered structure again at higher silver concentrations (>0.33). These results demonstrated that the facilitated olefin transport of SIS/silver salt complex membrancs was significantly affected by their coordinative interactions and nano-structural morphology.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.417-423
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• 2009

The effects of maleic anhydride-grafted polypropylene (PP-g-MAH) addition on polypropylene (PP) and poly(acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) (ABS) blends were studied. Blends of PP/ABS (70/30, wt%) with PP-g-MAH were prepared by a twin-screw extruder. From the results of mechanical testing, the impact, tensile and flexural strengths of the blends were maximized at a PP-g-MAH content 3 phr. The increased mechanical strength of the blends with the PP-g-MAH addition was attributed to the compatibilizing effect of the PP and ABS blends. In the morphological studies, the droplet size of ABS was minimized (6.6 ${\mu}m$) at a PP-g-MAH content of 3 phr. From the rheological examination, the complex viscosity was maximized at a PP-g-MAH content of 3 phr. These mechanical, morphological and rheological results indicated that the compatibility of the PP/ABS (70/30) blends is increased with PP-g-MAH addition to an optimum blend at a PP-g-MAH content of 3 phr.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.303-310
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• 2004

We have prepared an aqueous dispersion of poly(aniline-dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid complex) (PANI-DC) that has an intrinsic viscosity (〔η〕) near 1.3 dL/g using aniline as a monomer, dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid(DBSA) as a dopant/emulsifier, and ammonium peroxodisulfate(APS) as an oxidant. We found that the electrical conductivity of a PANI-DC pellet was 0.7 S/cm. A waterborne-polyurethane (WBPU) dispersion, obtained from isophorone diisocyanate/polytetramethylene oxide glycol/dimethylol propionic acid/ethylene diamine/triethylene amine, was used as a matrix polymer. We prepared blend films of WBPU/PANI-DC with variable weight ratios (from 99/1 to 66/34) by solution blending/casting and investigated the effects that the PANI-DC content has on the mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties, hardness, electrical conductivity, and antistaticity of these films. The tensile strength, percentage of elongation, and hardness of WBPU/PANI-DC blend films all decreased markedly upon increasing the PANI-DC content. The antistatic half-life time ($\tau$$\sub$$\frac{1}{2}$/) of pure WBPU film was about 110 s, but we found that those of WBPU/ultrasound-treated PANI-DC blend films decreased exponentially from 1.2 s to 0.1 s to almost 0 s upon increasing the PANI-DC content from 1 wt% to 15 wt% to > 15 wt%, respectively.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.357-367
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• 2003

The linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE)/zeolite composite using novel inorganic filler, zeolite, is prepared by a conventional compounding procedure using a twin-screw extruder. The observed scanning electron microscopic (SEM) morphology shows a good dispersion and adhesion of zeolite in the LLDPE matrix. The mechanical properties in terms of the Young's modulus, the yield stress, the impact strength, and the elongation at break were enhanced with a successive increment of zeolite content up to 40 wt%. The X-ray diffraction measurement is of supportive for the improved mechanical properties and the complex melt viscosity is as well. Upon applying a certain level of strain on the composites, the dewetting, the air hole formation and its growth are characterized. The dewetting originates around the filler particles at low strain and induces elliptical micropores upon further stretching. The microporosity such as the aspect ratio, the number and the total area of the air holes is also characterized. Thus, the composites loaded 40 % zeolite and 300 % elongation may be applicable for breathable microporous films with improved modulus, impact and yield stress, elongation at break, microporosity and air hole properties.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.348-353
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• 2006

For enhancing the gene delivery efficiency of polyplexes, a new formulation was developed using PEI conjugated Pluronic F127 copolymer as an effective additive. Low molecular weight, branched polyethylenimine Mw 600 (LMW BPEI 600) was conjugated to the terminal end of Pluronic F127. The PEI-modified Pluronic copolymers formed a micellar structure in aqueous solution, similar to that of unmodified Pluronic copolymer. PEI modification of Pluronic copolymer increased the size of micelles while concomitantly raising the critical micelle concentration (CMC). The PEI-modified Pluronic copolymer was used as a micellar additive to enhance the gene transfection efficiency of pre-formulated polyelectrolyte complex nanoparticles composed of luciferase plasmid DNA and branched PEI Mw 25k (BPEI 25k) or polylysine Mw 39k (PLL 39k). The luciferase gene expression levels were significantly enhanced by the addition of the BPEI-modified Pluronic copolymer for the two formulations of BPEl and PLL polyplexes. The results indicated that the BPEI-modified Pluronic copolymer micelles ionically interacted on the surface of DNA/BPEI (PLL) polyplexes which might facilitate cellular uptake process.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.213-217
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• 2006

Although AIMP1 (previously known as p43) is one of three auxiliary proteins bound to a macromolecular aminoacyl tRNA complex, it is also secreted as a cytokine controlling both angiogenesis and immune responses. Here we show that systemically administered purified recombinant human AIMP1 had anti-tumor activity in mouse xenograft models. In Meth A-bearing Balb/c mice, tumor volume increased about 28 fold in the vehicle treatment group, while an increase of about 16.7 fold was observed in the AIMP1-treated group. We also evaluated the anti-tumor activity of AIMP1 in combination with a sub-clinical dose of the cytotoxic anti-tumor drug, paclitaxel. The growth of NUGC-3 human stomach cancer cells was suppressed by 84% and 94% by the combinations of 5 mg/kg paclitaxel + 25 mg/kg AIMP1 (p = 0.03), and 5 mg/kg paclitaxel + 50 mg/kg AIMP1 (p = 0.02), respectively, while 5 mg/kg paclitaxel alone suppressed growth by only 54% (p = 0.02). A similar cooperative effect of AIMP1 and paclitaxel was observed in a lung cancer xenograft model. These results suggest that AIMP1 may be useful as a novel anti-tumor agent.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.539-543
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• 2008

Many natural proteins self-assemble in complex ways, either to fulfill their biological function or introduce particular properties, such as high strength and toughness. We report the morphological transition in water from a spherical to rod-like shape of Bombyx mori silk fibroin by reducing the pH. Transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and dynamic light scattering were used to characterize the dilute solutions of silk fibroin in an aqueous environment, and provide direct visualization of the transformation of spherical micelles at pH 6.8 to nanofibrils at pH 4.8. This change in morphology occurred as a result of the stretching entropy due to the formation of $\beta$-sheets, which was analyzed using circular dichroism spectroscopy. This study demonstrates the self-assembly of silk fibroin as a function of pH.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.134-138
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• 2008

A novel acrylol borate was designed and synthesized by reacting acrylate monomer and boric acid. The obtained acrylol borate was used as both gelator and anion receptor for the liquid electrolyte in a lithium secondary battery. It was found that the ionic conductivity of the gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) was as high as that of the liquid electrolyte, and the thermal stability of GPE was increased when only 2 wt% acrylol borate was incorporated into the liquid electrolyte. These results suggest that acrylol borate can be used as an effective additive to enhance the thermal stability of the electrolyte without adversely affecting its conductivity. It is believed that the strong complex formation between boron in the gelator and the anion of the salt is responsible for the enhanced thermal stability of the electrolyte solution and the increased ionic conductivity.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.187-191
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• 2009

Platinum (Pt) nanoparticles were prepared by the liquid-phase reduction of tetraammineplatinum (II) chloride $([Pt(NH_3)_4]Cl_2)$ using Nafion as a stabilizer under various conditions of the Nation phase. This method is novel in its use of electrostatic interactions between the Pt complex ions and sulfonic groups in the hydrated Nation molecules. The synthesized Pt nanoparticles of the recast film system had a cubic shape. In the case of the Nation solution system, the Pt nanoparticles mainly had a spherical shape. The shapes and sizes of the Pt nanoparticles were strongly influenced by the Nation phase.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.218-223
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• 2008

In order to obtain crosslinked poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) foams with a closed-cell structure, a commercial-grade PBS was first modified in the melt using two different branching agents to increase the melt viscosity. The rheological properties of the branched and crosslinked PBS were examined by varying the amount of the branching agents. The complex viscosity of the crosslinked PBS increased with increasing amount of the branching agent. However, it decreased with increasing frequency. When 2 phr of the branching agent was added to PBS, the storage modulus (G') was higher than the loss modulus (G") throughout the entire frequency range, showing that the addition of a branching agent increases the melt viscosity and elasticity of PBS effectively. Closed-cell PBS foams were prepared by mixing the chemical blowing agent with the crosslinked PBS. The effect of the foaming conditions such as temperature and time, and the amount of the crosslinking agent on the structure of the expanded PBS foams were also investigated.